WJC: 2015 — Canada Roster Talk (Part IV)

[lawrence]

If Crouse was not 6 foot 4 inches tall, he would not have made this team. Sad to say, but Hockey Canada likes the size and Canadian Grit of Crouse, over guys like Strome, Marner and Dal Colle. I have been harping on this the last couple of years- Hockey Canada should always take the exceptional talent for this short tournament.

Year in and year out- they make that same mistake, and fail. In those close games where goals are hard to come by and they lost the last several years, there has been second guessing immediately afterwards. This year will be no different if Canada fails to win Gold. Anyways, hope a guy like Crouse proves me wrong.

should put you and Kulemon in charge of Team Canada next year. I will see if I can send Tom Renny a Twitter. I will let him know, I know a couple guys that can select a better group then last years coaching staff.

 

[Mehar]

the harm is hurting his confidence when they cut him. What's the point of inviting a player who won't make the team? Strome's role is not a bottom3 grinder. top 2 centerman spots are taken by Reinhart and McDavid who both are cleary better players then Strome right now, ok, so since they've decided those 2 will be their top 2 centermans whats the point of inviting him? invite him just to cut him and break his heart? I remember when Junior players were cut from team Canada back in Vancouver.

yea... you sure know a lot about that.

Crouse got the invite based on trying out the bottom 6 role. Since Strome is not a bottom 6 type of player, he's an offensive guy which the 6 was pretty much set was Ottawa and New York Loaned their players.

Team Canada did the right thing by cutting Dal cole and not inviting 16 year olds in Marner and Strome. Physically they are not ready because they are up against the worlds best 19 year olds. So it's no point.

Again thank heavens team Canada is not run by a bunch of stats scouts. OMG, what a disaster it would have been. Imagine Dal Cole on the 3rd line. LOL wtf!!! what a mess.

FYI I thought Dal Cole looked like he was skating on quick sand last night.

Both are 17 and turning 18 in a couple of months. They are both older than Crouse. So- what about 17 year old Crouse? Like i said- these are my personal opinions. Canada has failed the last 5 years, and i am just puzzled by their decisions.

 

[surixon]

I think there is too much hand ringing going on about lack of talent or skill or team Canada's so called top 6 one checking line etc...

The fact is that this lineup should have high end talent from the first to fourth lines.

Virtanen scored 40 last year and is a high end skilled player and yet he more than likely plays on the fourth line.

Petan has been right near the top of the WHL scoring ledger the last number of years and he will be on the third. Point is a very talented offensive player and will also likely be on the third.

Team Canada took very few roll players for the bottom 6 this year imo.

 

[Future]

the harm is hurting his confidence when they cut him. What's the point of inviting a player who won't make the team? Strome's role is not a bottom3 grinder. top 2 centerman spots are taken by Reinhart and McDavid who both are cleary better players then Strome right now, ok, so since they've decided those 2 will be their top 2 centermans whats the point of inviting him? invite him just to cut him and break his heart? I remember when Junior players were cut from team Canada back in Vancouver.

yea... you sure know a lot about that.

Crouse got the invite based on trying out the bottom 6 role. Since Strome is not a bottom 6 type of player, he's an offensive guy which the 6 was pretty much set was Ottawa and New York Loaned their players.

Team Canada did the right thing by cutting Dal cole and not inviting 16 year olds in Marner and Strome. Physically they are not ready because they are up against the worlds best 19 year olds. So it's no point.

Again thank heavens team Canada is not run by a bunch of stats scouts. OMG, what a disaster it would have been. Imagine Dal Cole on the 3rd line. LOL wtf!!! what a mess.

FYI I thought Dal Cole looked like he was skating on quick sand last night.

First of all, these guys aren't little girls. They can handle being cut from a team without it destroying their careers. There is zero harm in inviting them, perhaps they perform better than the supposed locks. You never know.

Second of all, you should probably watch more hockey. Dal Colle had a bad game while playing with other players who had worse games. That doesn't help.

 

[wings5]

Strome has the hockey IQ and offensive instincs but imo he is too slow for this level right now to make an impact. As for Marner he is talented but there are similar players who are older, they will have they're chance next year if they're not in the NHL.

 

[TimeZone]

I'm all for it but when HC says they wNt to bring the most skilled lineup they can and leave out guys like Dal Colle every year for the big tough canadian boys it's hard to be optimistic.

This...ugh

 

[Redwingsfan]

Great to see Hicketts on the team. When the camp roster was announced, he was given pretty much no chance to make the team, and here he is. The only 96 born d-man, and one of 6 players from the 2014 draft to make the team, and the dude didn't even get drafted and was signed as free agent

 

[CanaFan]

So, it is like saying that Daniel Sedin should not have been given the Art Ross Trophy in 2011 as the leading scorer in the NHL, because Crosby got hurt, and so Sedin passed him. Based on your logic- we have to adjust for games played.

The fact of the matter is- Dylan Strome was leading the OHL in scoring when the team was announced. I do not playing the hypothetical game. Forget about the top two scorers talk- it would not have hurt Hockey Canada to extend an invite to both Strome and Marner, and giving them a look. Based on their play this year- they deserved it.

Except we aren't talking about an Art Ross, we are talking about whether TC left the top 2 scorers in the OHL off the team or not. Who cares about who 'technically' lead in points, McD and Domi are obviously the top 2 point producers based on PPG and would easily be 1-2 if both had played the same number of games as Strome and Marner. This is more important than your silly Art Ross argument, since we are talking about winning hockey games, not end-of-season awards.

 

[y2kcanucks]

I'm all for it but when HC says they wNt to bring the most skilled lineup they can and leave out guys like Dal Colle every year for the big tough canadian boys it's hard to be optimistic.

I have no problem with bringing Ritchie. It's Gauthier I don't like being on the team.

I would probably bring this lineup:

Domi-Reinhart-Duclair
Fabbri-McDavid-Virtanen
Dal Colle-Lazar-Petan
Ritchie-Paul-Point
Crouse

 

[JackSlater]

Let me just say this- i am not as intelligent as the Hockey Canada brass, however during this Gold Medal Drought there have been many games over the past 5 years, when Canada was literally dying on the ice to get a goal, and never could buy a goal. You win by putting pucks in the net, the last time i checked. If this team does not win Gold or at least Medal (the bare minimum), heads definitely need to be rolled.

First of all- Strome and Marner are the two leading scorers in the OHL and great talents. They merited an invite based on their play alone this year, and it was a joke they were not even selected to the preliminary roster. You never leave the top two scorers in the OHL without an invite. They have been tremendous this year.

Secondly- just like last year, i am still puzzled how Canada learned nothing from last year, and basically named the two goaltenders right off the bat. You leave a guy like Tristan Jarry home, when you should have at least invited him to compete with a starting job with Fucale. Fucale did not get it done last year, and did not look like Patrick Roy last year. I know the apologists are going to say that Canada had four goalies into camp two years ago and failed- but during the 14 year Medal Streak, Canada never just named their two goalies for the tournament right off the bat.

Thirdly- i am just puzzled how you can not give a guy like Dal Colle one more game to show himself. I am puzzled how you can cut a guy who is averaging 2 points a game in the OHL, who has great skill, in favour of other guys who might have the "grit" but not the skill. I am the guy who does not mind have 4 great scoring lines. I never bought the "Hockey Model" of having a gritty checking line. I am all for taking the superior hockey talent out there, and giving them the extra responsibility of killing penalites, etc., much like Ric Nash did in the 2010 Olympics.

Anyways, if Canada fails again this year, heads definitely need to be rolled. Still hard to believe that this year's Team Canada has no Tristan Jarry as one of the two goalies, and skilled guys like Dal Colle, Strome and Marner are not on the team, but other guys with the "Canadian Grit" have been selected. That Canadian Grit has not gotten it done the last 5 years, since in so many close games when Canada needed that one goal and failed to get it- there have been always second guessing why superior talent was left home. Fucale did not get it done last year, and i am just hoping it was not a mistake to name him the starter again without no competition.

These are good points. While I do believe that they did a good job picking the team this year for the most part, it wasn't as good as it could have been. There is no reason to remove competition from the selection camp. Other teams have gone further toward introducing competition to their camps over the last while, and Canada seems to be going in the opposite direction. What is the downside of bringing a few other elite players to camp? They outperform the previously anointed players, and make things a little more challenging for the coaching staff? I'll take that risk.

The insanity of only bringing two goaltenders to camp (no competition, plus they don't even bring a third stringer) makes the selectors look cowardly in my eyes. Last year they were talking about how they believed the pressure on Canada's goaltenders at this tournament is causing poor performances. How convenient to blame pressure instead of the goaltenders themselves for not being good enough... and also the Canadian model for not churning out quality goaltenders anymore.

 

[wings5]

If we cared about sending the most skilled, talented lineup Klimchuk, Baptiste, Dal Colle, De Luca, Ho-Sang would be there instead of Gauthier, Ritchie , Paul, Crouse. It's obvious with the selections they're looking for 200 ft players but you only need so many.

 

[bert]

I never said Crouse wasn't a good player. I said I don't think he is anywhere near a top 5 pick, especially in this draft and I just think it's crazy how he even got invited. Especially over talents like Marner and Strome who are a couple of the best players in the league already and can take over games. Usually you have to be an exceptional 17 year old putting up exceptional numbers to even get invited to camp. Look at guys like McDavid, Mackinnon, Drouin, Couturier, Hall, Murray, Reinhart, etc. Lawson Crouse is far from an exceptional talent. Marner and Strome fit that bill.

My biases? Gauthier is one of the best defensive forwards in the CHL, if not the best. Of course he was going to make the team if he had a good camp. That's why I didn't understand why people were surprised.

I don't have a Dal Colle bias. I'm not even a Generals fan. I just happened to watch him play and know how good he is and how great he can be. Canada cut their best goalscorer and that is unacceptable to me.

You must know more about hockey than all the NHL scouts and hockey Canada. Why are you typing on a message board?

Your assessment of Crouse is horribly inaccurate and completely biased towards players you want to cheer for. I have watched Marner, Strome and Crouse live multiple times. Crouse has jam, big time he is good away from the puck and is alot to handle. Marner especially was weak in his own zone and on the puck when I saw him recently.

 

[ZeroPT*]

Every line on this team is more than capable of scoring... Personally I would've had dallcolle on the team and crouse off. MDC and Gauthier were playing for different positions on the team so I don't know why you're even making a connection between the two..

It's not so much Gauthier but moreso his style. He wins face-offs and kills penalties. You don't cut a natural goal scorer and offensive beast for face-offs.

I don't know what all the griping is about. From what I've seen the forwards that were cut showed next to nothing. I don't care what they did on their junior teams. As for the defencemen it was a toss up. I really didn't see any major talent drop off.

What worries me is our goaltending. I'm a Habs fan but someone better tell Fucale to trade in his table tennis paddle for a goalie mitt. Either that or have Comrie as your #1 and I haven't seen enough of Comrie to calm my nerves.

From what I've seen so far the Canadian forwards and defencemen are the best of the tournament. That d-corps is one of the most mobile group I've ever seen. But Groulx better solve that problem in nets or we'll be continuing our medal less streak. And if he doesn't solve it then going with MDC or Fleury or Dickinson won't make a difference

That's a larger sample size than 1 real pre-tournament game and a pair of practice games against cis scrubs.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

Glad everyone got to say their "piece" since the cuts came down - God knows there is no "peace" in this thread right now. I don't understand some of the moves either but I am more accepting of HC's decisions than others.

As for last night's game, it was terrific. We dominated everywhere but on the scores sheet. If we can get better goaltending and bury some of our chances, we will be fine. Anyway, I am looking forward to 2 weeks of wonderful hockey.

Go Canada Go!!!

 

[Real Smart Sens Fan]

I seem to be the only person in favour of Reinhart being captain. And I think it is much closer between the two of them than people are acknowledging. Maybe I'm just biased for the BC kid.

I'd go
C: Reinhart
A: Lazar
A: Morrissey

I know Reinhart and he's a huge beauty, definite captain material, but I think Lazar is just above and beyond - especially for a short tournament like this. I'd be thrilled with Reinhart as captain 99% of the time, but with Lazar there I feel it would be the wrong choice.

 

[Novak Djokovic]

Hopefully, they won't have to rely on 2 players to score all the goals like the last 4 tournaments. Our third and fourth lines have been abysmal offensively.

 

[Paxon]

I know Reinhart and he's a huge beauty, definite captain material, but I think Lazar is just above and beyond - especially for a short tournament like this. I'd be thrilled with Reinhart as captain 99% of the time, but with Lazar there I feel it would be the wrong choice.

I agree that Lazar makes more sense but I don't put too much stock into it mattering who gets it. Every team is going to have several viable candidates.

 

[Bad News Benning]

Im far more worried about the defense and goaltending than who the depth forwards on this team are. There is more than enough fire power up front to score enough goals. Whoever is on the 4th line doesn't really matter as you can hide a couple forwards rather easily by just rolling three lines in a short tournament like this. Hard to hide bad defense or goaltending in the same manner. To win you either need a defense that keeps scoring chances against down or a goalie that can elevate to a godly level which is why im skeptical about our chances in a single elimination game. When Canada wins at any level it's usually due to either an unreal D-core or Elite Goalie (and sometimes both).

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

Im far more worried about the defense and goaltending than who the depth forwards on this team are. There is more than enough fire power up front to score enough goals. Whoever is on the 4th line doesn't really matter as you can hide a couple forwards rather easily by just rolling three lines in a short tournament like this. Hard to hide bad defense or goaltending in the same manner. To win you either need a defense that keeps scoring chances against down or a goalie that can elevate to a godly level which is why im skeptical about our chances in a single elimination game. When Canada wins at any level it's usually due to either an unreal D-core or Elite Goalie (and sometimes both).

I am not worried about the D. Let's be honest, if Fucale doesn't get Luongo-itis last night, we win 1-0. If he doesn't get Luongo-itis in the O.T., it goes to a shoot-out. The 2 goals were poor and basically the same - Fucale drop an easy puck and then overplays the rebound.

 

[Blue Shakehead]

I love how every Canucks poster has Virtanen playing with McDavid. Almost zero chance that happens.

 

[Mehar]

Except we aren't talking about an Art Ross, we are talking about whether TC left the top 2 scorers in the OHL off the team or not. Who cares about who 'technically' lead in points, McD and Domi are obviously the top 2 point producers based on PPG and would easily be 1-2 if both had played the same number of games as Strome and Marner. This is more important than your silly Art Ross argument, since we are talking about winning hockey games, not end-of-season awards.

Last time i checked- Points do determine who the leading scorers are in a league, rather than PPG. Listen- i said what i had to say. Canada left the leading scorer in the OHL back home in Dylan Strome, and regardless if McDavid was hurt, that was a fact. What i said was a fact, and let's not get into technicalities, because Strome was leading in points at the time, and Marner was Top 5. Strome and Marner both deserved invites, and regardless if they made the team or not; they both deserved shots at making this team. I said my piece.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

Perhaps this is a silly way of looking at it but...

Would posters prefer Russia outshoot Canada 50 - 15 and Canada wins in OT during a meaningless exhibition game or the results from last night? I would prefer the latter.

If the roles were reversed and we were dominated like Russia was, posters here would be hanging themselves. Again, we looked great. Should we have parked (even one more of our endless) chances? Of course - hopefully that will come with chemistry and regular line mates. Let's just wait and see.

 

[y2kcanucks]

I love how every Canucks poster has Virtanen playing with McDavid. Almost zero chance that happens.

It should happen, and as I stated in my post those are the lines I would have had. But it probably doesn't.

 

[Superpest]

I love how every Canucks poster has Virtanen playing with McDavid. Almost zero chance that happens.

Care to explain why or is this just your personal opinion because you hate the Canucks?

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

What is also positive is Russia got 7 of their shots in the first period. In other words, once the team started to play together and gel, Russia averaged 4 shots a period. Impressive.